The main causes of prolonged diarrhea. What could be causing persistent diarrhea? Stomach upset diarrhea treatment

Diarrhea (diarrhea)- frequent loose stools. It usually occurs when something causes the muscles in the digestive tract to contract too quickly (see How Diarrhea Happens).

Most people experience diarrhea from time to time, sometimes simply from stress or nervousness. In some cases, diarrhea is a way for the body to get rid of something unusual. For example, if you've been restricting your fat intake for a while and then eat something fatty, your body may quickly react with loose stools.

How does diarrhea occur?

Typically, a series of wave-like muscle contractions propel food through the digestive tract. If they become too fast, the colon cannot absorb as much liquid from food as it should. This leads to diarrhea.

Causes

In addition to stress and unusual foods, diarrhea can be caused by:

  • intestinal flu;
  • caffeine, spicy foods or foods that irritate the intestines, such as sauerkraut;
  • food poisoning, such as salmonella or staphylococcus bacteria (see "Food poisoning");
  • acute intestinal infection caused by bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms;
  • painful intestinal sensitivity syndrome;
  • long-term inflammation of the lining of the colon (chronic ulcerative colitis);
  • growths on the inner surface of the digestive tract (polyps);
  • cancer of the rectum or colon;
  • lactose intolerance, caused by a lack of the enzyme lactase, which the body needs to digest the sugar in milk; undigested milk sugar (lactose) ferments and causes gas, cramps and diarrhea;
  • certain medications (see “Are Your Medicines Causing Diarrhea?”).

Symptoms

Diarrhea can be acute or chronic; The frequency of loose stools may vary from day to day and may vary from person to person. different people. The stool may be bloody, contain mucus or pus, or both.

Along with diarrhea, a person usually experiences pain or cramps in the abdomen, he may have nausea, vomiting, weakness, and loss of appetite. Depending on the cause of diarrhea, the type of stool and other symptoms vary.

Symptoms of acute intestinal infection

  • suddenly appearing exclusively loose stools;
  • strong stool odor;
  • painful and sensitive stomach;
  • nausea;
  • chills;
  • weakness;
  • poor appetite;
  • weight loss.

Colon Cancer Symptoms

  • bloody diarrhea interspersed with pencil-thick stools;
  • abdominal pain;
  • loss of appetite;
  • weight loss;
  • weakness;
  • depression.

Symptoms of painful bowel sensitivity

In this case, diarrhea can alternate with constipation and normal stool:

  • a painful, tender, or swollen belly;
  • stomach upset;
  • nausea.

Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis

  • recurring bloody diarrhea containing pus or mucus;
  • spasmodic pain in the lower abdomen;
  • mild fever;
  • loss of appetite;
  • sometimes nausea or vomiting.

Do your medications cause diarrhea?

Diarrhea can be a side effect of many medications, such as antibiotics, which, in particular, include drugs from the tetracycline group.

Other medications to keep in mind:

  • antacids containing magnesium;
  • birth control pills;
  • colchicine - a medicine for gout;
  • estrogens;
  • Inderal, a medicine used to reduce high blood pressure and some heart diseases;
  • laxatives (can cause diarrhea if overdose);
  • Lanoxin - a means of stabilizing heart contractions;
  • vitamin C (can cause diarrhea if overdosed).

It is important! If you experience diarrhea from medications, consult your doctor before taking medication. They can make diarrhea worse and last longer.

What to do

If the diarrhea is prolonged and severe, check to see if the patient has symptoms of shock:

  • increased heart rate;
  • dizziness (especially when moving from a sitting to a standing position);
  • cold, pale, damp skin.

If you notice at least one of these symptoms, call a doctor immediately. Elevate the patient's legs slightly until help arrives.

Self-medication

If your child has diarrhea, contact your doctor immediately.

Almost healthy person diarrhea usually goes away in a few days or less.

It is very important to drink plenty of fluids. Until your stool returns to normal, you need to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Coca-Cola, coffee, milk, juices and alcohol should be avoided. You should also not swallow drinks in one gulp - this can cause a spasm, which further stimulates the digestive tract.

You should eat regularly, avoiding spicy, fried, fatty foods. Limit yourself to bananas, rice, applesauce and dry bread. These products have astringent properties.

If diarrhea continues for one to two days while taking large quantity fluids and an appropriate diet, you can take a diarrhea medicine such as kaopectate.

Contact your doctor if:

diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours;

  • stool contains bright or dark blood or appears black (indicating the presence of blood);
  • stool very copious;
  • there is a suspicion of food poisoning.

What doctors are doing

Severe or prolonged diarrhea can affect the water-salt balance in the body. This entails life-threatening complications such as arrhythmia, dehydration and shock. A patient with severe diarrhea may need to be hospitalized to determine the cause. Doctors may give intravenous fluids to combat dehydration due to excess fluid loss—especially if the patient is unable to eat or drink—as well as medications to ease bowel contractions.

What else do you need to know

If your child has diarrhea, contact your doctor immediately. Why? In a small child, diarrhea can be life-threatening, as it causes dehydration due to excessive loss of large amounts of fluid, cramps and other serious complications. If your child is under three years old and has diarrhea for more than one day or has blood in his stool, call a doctor immediately.

The human body is very fragile and vulnerable, this is especially true digestive system. Problems with the gastrointestinal tract can occur in a person of any age and gender, and the consequences can be very severe.

One of these unpleasant diseases is diarrhea.

Diarrhea (diarrhea)- This is an intestinal disorder. It can be classified as separate disease, but it would be more correct to say that diarrhea occurs as a result of gastrointestinal disturbances and is more of a symptom.

Diarrhea can lead to fatal outcome, at risk are children under the age of two years, if a diagnosis is not made in time, the cause of this disorder is not determined and immediate treatment is not started.

If measures are not taken, dehydration occurs, which can be life-threatening for the patient.

There are two forms of diarrhea: acute and chronic.

Acute form, as a rule, begins suddenly and lasts no more than two weeks. Most often it is caused by infections that affect gastrointestinal tract. In the acute form, two types of diarrhea can be distinguished: when it is just liquid discharge and when it is bloody.

Chronic form diarrhea occurs from more serious illnesses and may continue for a long time. In this case, doctors try to extend the period of remission for the maximum period.

1. Causes of diarrhea

2. Symptoms

  • Severe pain in the intestines and stomach;
  • Temperature increase;
  • Nausea, vomiting, bloating;
  • Liquid stool that may be watery, bloody, or slimy.

If symptoms of this kind appear, you should immediately contact a specialist, an adult - no later than 2-3 days, but small child- already on the second, because children's body more vulnerable and suffers more from diarrhea.

3. Diagnostics

By using differential diagnosis specialists can understand the most important thing - what is the cause of diarrhea. To make a diagnosis, an examination of the body is carried out and the symptoms are studied, since when different pathogens diarrhea they may vary.

Doctors pay attention to the color and smell of stool, how abundant and frequent they are, but this may not be enough to prescribe precise treatment. The patient also undergoes tests; only by studying them in the laboratory can the cause be determined and the necessary treatment prescribed.

4. Diseases that cause diarrhea

Diarrhea syndrome can occur not only from infections or inappropriate food, but also due to some kind of disease. For example, diarrhea is caused by:

  • Crohn's disease;

This disease is not always associated with the gastrointestinal tract; in a patient with disorders nervous system There may also be diarrhea. Hepatitis and disorders of the biliary tract can also manifest themselves in the form of loose stools.

5. Treatment and prediction of diarrhea

If this is ordinary food poisoning, a diet is prescribed, and after a couple of days the stool should improve. Hospitalization of the patient is necessary in cases where he is already impaired water balance due to the extent of the disease, loose bloody stools, and when he is diagnosed with life-threatening diseases - salmonellosis or cholera.

The specialist prescribes medications that relieve spasms and pain in the abdominal area, for example Nosh-pa or Spazmalgon, and solutions or tablets that help stop loose stools.

When treating diarrhea, antibiotics are used in cases where the condition has noticeably worsened. In some cases, the patient requires additional treatment to restore the body, in which case the specialist will tell you what vitamins need to be taken.

Treatment of diarrhea with folk remedies

It is not always necessary for a person drug treatment. In cases where diarrhea is caused by a common food infection and is not complex in nature, it can be treated at home. The most common methods of treatment are drinking strong tea and St. John's wort decoction. In the second case, you cannot overdo it, since St. John's wort is a highly stool-fastening herb.

If diarrhea with bloody discharge, dried chicken gizzards can help. They should be ground into powder and taken several teaspoons per day as a decoction. Pharmacy chamomile is well suited as a general tonic. You should not overdo it in self-medication, and if it does not help within a few days, it is recommended to go to the hospital to avoid complications.

Diarrhea - causes, symptoms, treatment

Diarrhea is a rather unpleasant condition, and it can happen to absolutely anyone and sometimes just when it’s time to important meeting or you need to urgently run to work. There are quite a lot of reasons causing it. And, of course, if loose stools are taken by surprise, everyone begins to frantically look for options to solve this delicate problem. How to stop diarrhea in an adult? Is it necessary to do this? What medications will help cope with unexpected loose stools?

Diarrhea is a pathological condition, the main symptom of which is frequent bowel movements, during which shapeless, liquid, almost watery feces are released. It also has another, more delicate and correct name - diarrhea. Diarrhea can be either one-time or it can torment a person several times in a row during the day or longer.

Attention! Diarrhea that lasts longer than 2 weeks is considered an acute form of diarrhea. And if it continues further, then most likely the condition has become chronic.

The main signs of diarrhea:

  • strong urge to defecate;
  • feces liquid, almost watery;
  • symptoms such as vomiting and nausea may be present;
  • abdominal pain;
  • flatulence, rumbling;
  • under a certain condition – elevated temperature;
  • general weakness and lethargy.

Liquid stool is a natural way of protecting the body from the effects of poisonous or toxic substances that enter the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea can be caused by a variety of reasons:

  • eating low-quality or expired products;
  • use junk food having a high concentration of preservatives and dyes;
  • entry into the body of pathogens of infectious diseases;
  • dysbacteriosis;
  • stress;
  • improper diet;
  • taking a number of medications;
  • eating food that is unusual for the body, new dishes;
  • the presence of various pathologies.

Important! When buying food, you should always buy the freshest and most natural products possible. It is better to refuse to buy products that will soon expire, even if they are offered at a very attractive price.

Table. Types of diarrhea.

FormCause
Infectious In this case, diarrhea is caused by representatives of pathogenic microflora that have entered the intestinal tract and are actively multiplying. They can get there with food or as a result of lack of personal hygiene.
Dyspeptic The form develops due to disturbances in the digestion of food, due to problems with the functioning of the liver, gastric secretion, etc.
Nutritional This diarrhea can be caused by allergic reactions body. It can be caused by eating unusual dishes, foods, and spices.
Toxic It develops against the background of toxic substances entering the body (for example, mercury and arsenic).
Medication Occurs as a result of taking a number of medications that have diarrhea on the list side effects. It also develops while taking a large number of medications.
Neurogenic It is associated with the fact that a person experiences strong negative or positive experiences and fears. Often occurs in children.

On a note! Experts identify another form of diarrhea - traveler's diarrhea. It occurs in people who make long trips or hikes and is associated with violation of sanitary and hygienic standards. Bacteria that live in a certain area and are characteristic of it can cause diarrhea - the traveler’s body may not have the required degree of immunity to them.

General principles of treatment

Typically diarrhea unless caused by an infection or pathological condition body, in adults it goes away quite quickly on its own. The main thing is that it does not drag on long term. However, you should not leave it unattended - it can cause dehydration. General principles Treatments for the condition are as follows.


Video: Diarrhea (diarrhea). Causes, signs and symptoms.

Medicines

To eliminate from the body toxic substances and remove some pathogenic intestinal bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract, doctors recommend the use of sorbents. These can be Enterosgel, activated carbon, Smecta, Biligin, Kaolin and other drugs. Activated carbon should be in every first aid kit, and it is also recommended to take it with you on the road.

Important! Sorbent drugs can remove not only harmful but also beneficial substances from the body, and also smooth out the effects of other medications. Therefore, they should be taken along with other drugs with an interval of at least 2 hours. But modern means Usually they act selectively - they cleanse the body only of toxins.

If diarrhea was caused by long-term use of any medications, it is important to contact the doctor who prescribed them in order to discontinue them. The specialist will be able to recommend another remedy. If the cause of diarrhea is problems with absorption processes nutrients in the intestines, the doctor will recommend taking enzyme preparations. This could be Creon, Pancreatin, Mezim, etc.

If diarrhea is accompanied by abdominal pain, then it is necessary to take antispasmodic drugs such as Drotaverine or No-Shpy. And to restore the intestinal microflora at the end of treatment, Lactobacterin, Linex, Hilak-Forte, Enterol, etc. are used.

If you need to stop the diarrhea itself as quickly as possible, doctors recommend using a drug such as Loperamide. It does its job perfectly, but it should not be taken if diarrhea is caused by an intestinal infection. They retain feces in the body, and in such a situation it is contraindicated.

If you want not only to relieve the symptoms of diarrhea, but to get rid of the cause of its occurrence - an intestinal infection, then you need to take antimicrobial drugs, for example, Ecofuril. His active substance- nifuroxazide eliminates pathogenic microorganisms - the cause of intestinal infection, and the auxiliary substance lactulose (prebiotic) creates a nutrient medium in the intestine for the reproduction of its own beneficial microflora. Doctors recommend taking Ecofuril for 5-7 days. After finishing taking the drug, no additional course of pro- or prebiotics is required for recovery. The medicine for adults and children over 3 years of age is available in capsules.


Ecofuril allows you to get rid of one of the causes of diarrhea - intestinal infection

Traditional methods

There are many methods traditional medicine, facilitating the course of diarrhea or eliminating it altogether. Most of them can be used without consulting a doctor. As a rule, the effect of their use is achieved within a couple of hours.

Perhaps this is the most popular and affordable way fight against diarrhea. In addition, it is one of those products that are classified as absolutely safe for the body. Rice broth envelops the intestines and does not allow gastric juice to negatively affect it, improves peristalsis, and helps the formation of feces. Due to the starch contained in rice cereal, the product has the ability to absorb excess liquid and thicken liquid stool. In addition, rice water perfectly eliminates flatulence and inhibits fermentation processes.

On a note! Rice water can be given even to children.

It’s easy to prepare: just boil a couple of teaspoons of rice soaked in a liter of boiling water. cold water. You need to cook for about 50 minutes. Next, the broth is cooled, filtered through a fine sieve and taken 150 ml every 3 hours.

Bird cherry is excellent for treating diarrhea if the latter did not develop against the background of infections. But you should not overuse the decoction - bird cherry contains amygdalin, which, when broken down in the body, produces hydrocyanic acid, which is classified as a poison. The decoction must be prepared according to a prescription and should not be drunk without consulting your doctor. Nursing mothers and pregnant women should not use it.

To prepare the decoction, washed clean water bird cherry berries (0.5 cups). They are poured with boiling water and placed in a water bath for 30 minutes. After this, the broth is infused for half an hour, covered with a lid. Next, you need to strain it and dilute it with blueberry juice in the same amount. You need to drink 1 tbsp every hour. l.

Dense, red, dry pomegranate peels, peeled from the white layer, are an excellent remedy. They contain about 30% tannins and are effective against diarrhea and almost any intestinal disorders. They are also capable of suppressing the pathogens of dysentery. However, the product has contraindications and requires consultation with a doctor before using it.

Dried pomegranate peels are ground to a powder, after which 1 tsp. This powder is poured with boiling water (1 tbsp.) and boiled in a water bath for 60 minutes, after which it is infused for 40 minutes. You need to take 1 tsp. about 4 times during the day until diarrhea disappears.

Blueberry

It turns out that this plant benefits not only the eyes, but also the gastrointestinal tract. Used to relieve diarrhea dried berries– fresh ones have the opposite effect and are used for constipation. Blueberries are rich in pectin and tannins, effective and safe. You can make decoctions, jelly, and compotes from dried blueberries.

Oak bark - excellent remedy against inflammation, it fights pathogenic microorganisms, has astringent action, is capable of combining with proteins to form a protective layer on the intestinal walls. It is also effective for diarrhea. You can make tinctures, decoctions, and enemas from oak bark.

Black pepper

The simplicity and availability of this remedy for diarrhea made it possible to make black peas, along with rice water, the most used folk method treatment of loose stools. Black pepper normalizes digestive processes by activating the production of enzymes and gastric juice. It's easy to use: you need to take 10 pcs. peas and simply swallow them with water. But the remedy, unfortunately, has contraindications - pepper cannot be used for ulcers, anemia, inflammatory processes in the kidneys or urinary tract.

When to see a doctor

Adults usually cope with diarrhea on their own and quite quickly. But in some cases, a visit to the doctor is still necessary. You need to visit a specialist’s office if:

  • symptoms do not go away for a long time;
  • the intensity of diarrhea does not decrease;
  • severe pain is felt in the abdomen;
  • the patient has an elevated temperature;
  • severe dehydration occurs;
  • pallor of the skin is noted;
  • stool is very dark in color.

The doctor will definitely take a medical history to determine the duration of the period of diarrhea and try to find out its cause. Next, he will order a series of tests to establish an accurate diagnosis. In some cases, the patient may be hospitalized according to indications.

Video: Deadly diarrhea

How to quickly get rid of diarrhea?

Step 1. The very first action for diarrhea should be to try to replenish fluid levels in the body. Diarrhea can seriously deplete its reserves in the body. You need to drink as much as possible more water, broths. On this day, if possible, it is better to cancel all activities and lie down at home, not far from the toilet.

Step 2. You can try over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medications.

Step 3. Analgesics should not be taken even if there is pain, without first consulting a doctor.

Talk to your doctor about analgesics in advance.

Step 4. You need to rest as much as possible, or better yet, sleep.

Step 5. If diarrhea persists throughout the day, you should consult a doctor the next day.

Step 6. If diarrhea is accompanied by severe pain, high temperature, then you should immediately call an ambulance.

Step 7 It is important to stop eating sweets, soda, and coffee. It is best to drink natural jelly.

Step 8 To avoid worsening diarrhea, you should eat foods low in dietary fiber. And for the first few hours it is better to completely fast.

Step 9 It is strictly forbidden to eat fatty foods and unhealthy foods.

Step 10 At the end of treatment, you need to eat foods rich in probiotics in order to restore the intestinal microflora.

Step 11 If the cause of diarrhea is intestinal infection, then it is important to take all measures to cope with it.

Minimize stress

Video - How to get rid of diarrhea? Traditional methods

Diarrhea can dramatically change a person’s plans for the day and throw him off track. However, you can deal with it quickly if you know how. As a rule, all of the above remedies have a fairly quick effect, and as soon as the diarrhea subsides, you can return to your usual rhythm of life. you will find on our website.

When persistent diarrhea occurs, people cannot lead their usual lifestyle, since the patient may be overcome by discomfort in the stomach, frequent urge to go to the toilet and bloating. There can be many reasons for the occurrence of diarrhea in an adult: from simple indigestion to serious illnesses, so if the stool is disturbed for several days, then you should think about going to the doctor.

Since diarrhea is only clinical picture, and not a disease, then first of all it is necessary to find the root cause. You should not fall for advertising from manufacturers who claim that one tablet is enough to solve problems with stool. It is important to remember that by eliminating the symptom, the disease will not go anywhere and, even worse, can cause harm to health, since many medications have contraindications.

Experts divide the causes of diarrhea into infectious and non-infectious. Diarrhea is also divided into chronic - it can bother the patient for a long time, causing damage to health, and acute - the urge to go to the toilet can bother you more than 5 times a day, while diarrhea is accompanied by pain and discomfort in the abdomen.

Infectious type

If you suspect an infection that has caused loose stools, you must health care. Infectious diarrhea is manifested by weakness, nausea, vomiting, stool may become green color with the presence of mucus, has bad smell, sometimes there may be an increase in body temperature. To the reasons for development infectious diarrhea applies:

Diarrhea infectious etiology may cause complications and, above all, suffers the immune system Therefore, this type of stool disorder requires mandatory treatment.

Non-infectious type

The non-infectious type of diarrhea is less dangerous than the infectious type, but also requires treatment, since prolonged loose stools can cause poor circulation and dehydration. Non-infectious diarrhea can be caused by the following factors:

  • frequent use of laxatives;
  • antibacterial therapy;
  • frequent consumption of milk;
  • thyroid diseases;
  • decreased level of immunoglobulin;
  • pancreatic diseases;
  • insufficient production of digestive enzymes;
  • the presence of tumors and cysts that cause circulatory problems;
  • ulcerative colitis;
  • eating disorder;
  • eating poor quality food;
  • intolerance of the body to certain nutrients.

Chronic diarrhea is most often not infectious; it occurs almost every day for several weeks or months. The main reason for its occurrence is poor nutrition or inflammatory diseases digestive organs.

Each disease or factor may differ in the nature of stool: diarrhea may be accompanied by other symptoms, have a foamy or liquid consistency, different color(white, black, green, yellow), presence of mucus or blood in the stool, foul odor.

Intestinal dysbiosis

Dysbacteriosis is one of the most common causes of bowel dysfunction. As chyme moves forward, feces are formed in the intestines. Processing and assimilation occur simultaneously useful substances, as well as the absorption of water and electrolytes. Digestion of food, as well as the absorption of nutrients, occurs thanks to microflora, which, during normal functioning, contains lactobacteria, bifidobacteria, E. coli and other beneficial microbes.

Dysbacteriosis can develop as a result of taking antibiotics, insufficient intake of vitamins from fruits and vegetables, decreased immunity, chronic diseases Gastrointestinal tract, radiation. With this disease, grade 3 or 4 diarrhea is observed, which leads to exhaustion of the patient, weight loss and the development of chronic enterocolitis. The main reasons for the development of diarrhea due to dysbacteriosis are:

  • deterioration of fluid absorption;
  • increased intestinal motility;
  • accumulation of large amounts of bile acid.

With dysbacteriosis, stool disturbance is often accompanied by allergic rashes, nausea, decreased appetite, belching, pain and bloating.

Pancreatitis

In case of pancreatic disease, one of the clinical manifestations is diarrhea. The pancreas is actively involved in the process of digesting food and when its functioning is disrupted, namely, when diagnosing chronic pancreatitis, stool disturbance is always observed. This disease is characterized by a decrease in the production of enzymes involved in food digestion. Pancreatitis most often develops in people who abuse alcohol and have diseases such as peptic ulcer, inflammation small intestine, as well as with the predominance in the diet fatty foods and when overeating.

Diarrhea with pancreatitis occurs due to the fact that fragments of digested food enter the large intestine. A high amount of nutrients activates bacteria, resulting in a putrefactive and fermentative process, leading to bloating and stool disturbances.

Stool with pancreatitis often has a liquid consistency, usually mushy with inclusions of undigested food. In addition to diarrhea, inflammation of the pancreas also manifests itself in other symptoms: pain in the lower back or left side, nausea and lack of appetite.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis

Also, one of the causes of bowel dysfunction is diseases of the large intestine, in particular ulcerative colitis. Most often, this disease affects people from 20 to 40 years old, and it is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • diarrhea;
  • pain in the lower abdomen;
  • the presence of mucus or blood in the stool;
  • bloating.

At acute course illness, there may be an increase in body temperature, malaise, weakness and muscle pain. In more severe conditions, vision may deteriorate.

95% of patients with ulcerative colitis complain about the appearance of loose stools, which prevents them from living fully and enjoying life, since the frequency of bowel movements can occur about 4 times a day in the chronic form, and more than 5 times in the acute form. Often, diarrhea can be replaced by constipation.

Infectious diseases

When pathogenic microorganisms develop in a person's intestines, diarrhea often occurs - the body's reaction to their waste products. In this case, it may be observed bad feeling, the appearance of nausea, vomiting and fever.

At infectious diseases the stool becomes watery, and in a short period of time a person can lose up to several liters of fluid, which negatively affects the health of the body.

Depending on what kind of infection is present, the stool may change its appearance For example, with cholera it has a liquid state, and with dysentery it is scanty and slimy.

If treatment is not prescribed in time, the disease may develop into a more serious condition. In addition to dehydration, which negatively affects the body, there is a toxic effect of microbes, the severity of which depends on the type of pathogen. This condition should not be treated independently; you need qualified assistance from a doctor who will prescribe the necessary medications.

Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is one of the most severe diseases associated with an inflammatory process in the digestive tract, which affects all layers of the intestine: submucosal, muscular and mucosal. Inflammatory process can occur in the lower and upper segment of the digestive tube, but most often it is the small intestine that is affected.

Crohn's disease has 3 degrees of severity:

  1. In mild cases of the disease, the incidence of diarrhea is no more than 4 times, streaks of blood in the stool are absent or weakly expressed.
  2. Moderate severity is manifested in more frequent bowel movements, up to 6 times. The presence of blood in stool can be detected with the naked eye.
  3. Severe disease is characterized by the occurrence of diarrhea more than 10 times a day, in which case complications such as bleeding, abscesses and fistulas may occur.

The causes of Crohn's disease have not yet been studied; it is most often diagnosed in people under 35 years of age. In addition to diarrhea, this disease manifests itself in severe pain in the abdomen, the appearance of malaise and weakness. The diagnosis can only be made by a doctor after preliminary diagnosis.

Psychosomatic causes of diarrhea

The human body is a complex mechanism that responds to any negative factors, including bad state of mind. Therefore, very often diarrhea appears when a person experiences severe nervous shock. Diarrhea and frequent distress can cause severe illness, and most of is psychosomatic in nature.

For some people, when fear arises, not only their movements, but their entire body becomes stiff. Many patients, when experiencing fear, in addition to the urge to go to the toilet, are bothered by abdominal pain and other unpleasant sensations. After the fear goes away, the stool may remain liquid throughout the day. At frequent occurrence Diarrhea against the background of anxiety, experts recommend taking sedatives.

Treatment of frequent diarrhea

If frequent diarrhea occurs, you should consult a doctor, he will prescribe tests and diagnostics, which will help identify the cause of bowel dysfunction. First of all, treatment is aimed at eliminating the unpleasant symptom with the help of antidiarrheal drugs, while simultaneously treating the underlying disease.

Since diarrhea severely dehydrates the body, the doctor additionally prescribes rehydrating drugs (Normasol, Gamtrolit, Regidron, etc.), which restore the water-salt balance in the body. Also, during treatment, it is important to drink enough liquid and monitor your diet (exclude: spicy foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, alcohol).

It is important to know that all medications should be used only after a doctor's prescription.

With absence timely treatment, diarrhea may progress to chronic form. What should you do if your stomach is constantly churning and diarrhea has not stopped for several weeks? Choosing the right treatment option depends on the cause of the disease.

Causes of prolonged diarrhea

There are several reasons for prolonged diarrhea:

The digestion process is affected by the composition and quantitative ratio of bacteria present in the intestine. Reception antibacterial drugs leads to disruption of normal microflora.

Antibiotics destroy lactobacilli, E. coli and bifidobacteria, which are directly involved in the digestion process. The cause of dysbiosis may be a lack of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet.

The disease leads to impaired absorption of fluids and nutrients. Lack of timely treatment can lead to enterocolitis.

Prolonged diarrhea may be a sign of pancreatic pathologies. With chronic pancreatitis, the production of enzymes involved in the digestive process is greatly reduced.

The risk group includes people who are chronic alcoholics. The inflammatory process can begin after drinking ethanol.

Pancreatitis is found in people who eat too much fat. Constant overeating greatly complicates the functioning of the pancreas. Incompletely digested food enters the intestines of a sick person. As a result, the patient begins to ferment immediately after eating.

In this case, active proliferation of bacteria occurs. IN loose stools The patient may notice pieces of poorly digested food. This phenomenon is called creatorrhoea. Steatorrhea indicates the presence of undigested food in the stool. neutral fat. Fat coats the intestinal walls, making it slippery and causing diarrhea.

Diarrhea due to ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis affects the tissues of the large intestine. The patient’s mucous membranes not only become inflamed, but ulcers also form. Most patients are young people aged 20 to 35 years. Patients complain of the following symptoms:

  • clots of blood and mucus appear in the stool;
  • the lower abdomen begins to hurt;
  • a person feels rumbling in the stomach and diarrhea does not go away after taking antidiarrheal drugs;
  • the patient feels discomfort and bloating;
  • a person is forced to go to the toilet more than 2 times a day;
  • weight loss occurs.

Crohn's disease

The disease leads to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the digestive system. In this case, the tissues of the small intestine are affected.

There are 3 degrees of severity of Crohn's disease:

  1. The initial stage of the disease is accompanied by a slight increase in bowel movements. Blood is very rarely present in the patient's stool.
  2. Sign medium degree severity is an increase in stool frequency up to 6 times a day. Traces of blood appear in the patient's stool.
  3. The latter degree leads to more severe complications. In many patients, bleeding and fistulas can be detected.

The disease affects people under 35 years of age. The patient develops characteristic symptoms:

  • aching pain in the abdominal area;
  • the person complains of weakness;
  • Bloody diarrhea begins, with a frequency of up to 10 times a day.

When the worm multiplies in the body, the patient feels:

  1. Cramping pain appears in the abdominal area.
  2. The patient (usually a child) suffers from diarrhea and flatulence;
  3. Constantly rumbling in the stomach and diarrhea does not stop for more than a week.
  4. The disease leads to increased gas formation.

A distinctive feature of such diarrhea is the absence of blood and mucus in the stool.

When infected with Salmonella, stool becomes characteristic. Salmonellosis is a dangerous intestinal infection that can lead to dehydration, infectious-toxic shock, and even death. Liquid diarrhea gray color can be seen in patients with pancreatic pathologies.

Colonoscopy

The patient examination includes the following procedures:

  1. Colonoscopy allows you to evaluate the surface of the patient's large intestine. Based on the data obtained, specialists draw conclusions about various diseases- ulcers, diverticula, polyps, bleeding, tumors.
  2. Bakposev ( bacteriological examination) is used to identify pure bacterial cultures.
  3. During a proctological examination, you can find out about cracks and fistulas in the colon.
  4. No less valuable information can be obtained by rectomanoscopy. Using an endoscope, specialists examine the mucous membranes different departments intestines. .
  5. If additional questions arise, I can refer the patient to undergo irrigoscopy. The procedure involves examining the large intestine using a radiopaque contrast agent. The method allows you to determine the condition of the mucous membranes, the presence of tumors and damage.
  6. Thanks to ultrasound abdominal cavity inflammation of various parts of the digestive tract can be identified in a timely manner. Doctors evaluate the functioning of the pancreas, stomach and intestines.

Treatment of long-term diarrhea

Loose stools are not a disease. This is a syndrome, and it just indicates a disorder of the digestive system, which can occur for various reasons.

Antibiotics are used to treat diarrhea associated with bacterial infection.

Blackberry decoction

You can get rid of diarrhea using blackberry twigs. Before preparing the decoction, they must be cut into small pieces. Fill Art. spoon of raw material with a glass of water and cook for 15 minutes. You can replace tea with a prepared decoction. Within 3 days after starting to use blackberry decoction, you will notice an improvement in your condition.

To cope with chronic diarrhea, you can use cinquefoil root. Pour 100 grams of raw material into a liter of water and cook for 20 minutes over low heat. The solution helps with bloody diarrhea that does not go away for a long time.